The Message of Instruction!!

Scripture: Haggai 2:10­-19, . . .As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.

You must read this Scripture to get the whole understanding of this message. I know you are in a hurry, but take a few minutes, get your Bible and look up the Scripture and slowly read it as you let the Good Lord open them up to you.

Introduction: I asked a deacon in our church if he thought we could be holy. His answer was “no way.” He did not at still does not believe we as mere humans can be holy. He thinks only God is holy.

God is the holy of the holy, but the Bible tells us in many places that we are to be holy. In Hebrews it tells us “to be holy, because without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

The Instruction:
The Book of Haggai is composed of messages the prophet Haggai preached to a remnant of the Jews who returned to Jerusalem after the exile to Babylon. They returned to rebuild the temple, but they became discouraged and gave up the project.

For eighteen years, nothing was done. Then in 520 B.C., a man called Haggai showed up and challenged the people. He said, "You're saying you don't have time to build the Lord's house. How come you find time to work on your own houses?"

So touching was his challenge that the people responded positively and set to work rebuilding the temple of the Lord. Haggai 2:10 contains the prophet's consequent message of instruction. The questions he asked in the text sound very complicated, but let me put them in modern English. The two questions Haggai posed were these.

Number one: Is holiness contagious? This question can also be put this way: Can you catch holiness just by being in touch with something holy? The answer is no.

Number two: Is uncleanness contagious? The answer is yes. Haggai's point was that the people had accepted the challenge to rebuild their holy temple, and accordingly, because they were involved in a "holy" work, they assumed that it made them holy.

Haggai challenged them on this because that is not necessarily the case. However, on the contrary, if we engage in the work of the Lord and our lives are defiled, is it possible the defilement is contagious?

In other words, can we defile the work of the Lord if our own lives are unclean?

The answer is yes.

Why is this important?

Why was holiness such a big deal to the children of Israel?

Is holiness a subject we should be concerned about?
The answer is definitely, "Yes!" Leviticus 19:2 says, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy."

Holiness is the overarching characteristic of God, and it is to be the overarching characteristic of the covenant people of God.

1. God Is Holy.

A. He is exalted in His transcendence.
To descend means to go down.
To transcend means to go across.

Holiness means that God goes across or overarches. This is His overarching attribute.

When we ask someone what is the greatest characteristic of God, we get answers like His love, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness. All these thing are good but the actual fact is that His holiness defines His other attributes.

His love is a holy love.

His grace is a holy grace.

His mercy is a holy mercy. He is holy.

B. He is awesome in power.

C. He is glorious in appearance.

D. He is pure in character. One aspect of His otherness or separateness is that, while we are fallen and sinful, He is pure and sinless.

2. We are to be Holy. As far as the children of Israel were concerned, they were to be holy because that was the overarching characteristic of their God.

By the way they behaved, by the way they conducted themselves, by the way they lived distinctively among the other nations, they were to demonstrate something of the beauty and power and purity of God Himself. But Haggai wanted the people to realize that holiness isn't just a matter of being engaged in activities such as rebuilding the temple.

It came from their own relationship with God. He wanted them to realize that it was perfectly possible for them to go through all their externals and rituals but be totally devoid of any holiness.

We must make sure that we're not just involved in the work and worship of the Lord without being deeply committed in obedience to the Lord to whom our work and worship is rendered.

Conclusion: In 2 Corinthians 7:1, we read: "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

That pretty well summarizes what we've been talking about. Haggai tells us to never underestimate the holiness of God, nor devalue the sinfulness of humanity, nor neglect the wonders of grace, nor take your own spirituality carelessly. We're to be holy for He is holy.

Right Now we could be standing on the verge of World War three. Think about it! Israeli Tanks and soldiers are standing ready on the border between Israel and Lebanon. Israel will not be defeated and we as American have a mandate to stand with Israel.

Iran backs Lebanon and the ruler of Iran hates the Americans with a passion. This is a Holy war and it has been going on since the world began.

I do not know when Christ will return, but one thing I do know for sure and it is that it is closer today than yesterday.

What will you do?
Will you start living a holy life? Will you live a life of dedication to Christ and do the things He would have you to do?

What will you do with whatever time you have left?

These are things we each need to consider because in the blinking of an eye….who knows what may happen!!!

May God open our eyes and hearts because if God is for us, who can be against us?

No matter what we have done, if we come to God just like we are with a true heart of repentance, He will hear our plea for forgiveness and as this Scripture says,,,

“But from this day I will bless you.”

Thanks.
Robert N. Graves, Sr.
Fisherman for Christ